The Florida Senate

211.01  Definitions.

211.02  Oil production tax; basis and rate of tax; tertiary oil.

211.025  Gas production tax; basis and rate of tax.

211.026  Sulfur production tax; basis and rate of tax.

211.027  Exemptions.

211.04  Assessment upon escaped oil; claims against same.

211.06  Oil and Gas Tax Trust Fund; distribution of tax proceeds.

211.075  Payment of tax; returns; filing requirements; estimated tax declarations.

211.076  Interest and penalties; failure to pay tax or file return; estimated tax underpayments.

211.09  Collection of tax; duties of producer, operator, and purchaser.

211.125  Administration of law; books and records; powers of the department; refunds; enforcement provisions; confidentiality.

211.13  Tax exclusive.

211.18  Records.

211.25  Tax crimes; punishment for violation of this part.

211.01  Definitions.--As used in this part:

(1)  "Barrel" means a unit of measurement for oil production and is 42 U.S. gallons of 231 cubic inches per gallon, computed at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, after deduction for the full percent of basic sediment, water, and other impurities as ascertained by centrifugal or other recognized and customary tests.

(2)  "Casinghead gas" means gas produced with oil from oil wells, the gas being taken from the well through the casinghead, or the liquid hydrocarbons in solution which may be separated in part by a reduction in pressure at the wellhead and separated more completely in a separator or absorption plant or by another manufacturing process.

(3)  "Completion date" means the day, month, and year that a new productive well, a previously shut-in well, or a temporarily abandoned well is completed, repaired, or recompleted and the operator begins producing oil or gas in commercial quantities.

(4)  "Cubic foot" means a unit of measurement for gas production and is the volume of gas contained in one cubic foot of space at a base temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a base pressure of 14.65 pounds per square inch absolute, pressure and specific gravity corrections to be made according to Boyle's Law and a test made by the balance method, respectively.

(5)  "Day" means the standard calendar period of 24 consecutive hours ending at 12 o'clock midnight.

(6)  "Department" means the Department of Revenue.

(7)  "Gas" means all natural gas, including casinghead gas, and all hydrocarbons not defined as oil, but excludes any hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfur contained, produced, or recovered from such hydrogen sulfide gas.

(8)  "Horizontal well" means a well completed with the wellbore in a horizontal or nearly horizontal orientation within 10 degrees of horizontal within the producing formation.

(9)  "Long ton" means 2240 pounds and is the unit of measurement in the production of sulfur.

(10)  "Mcf" means 1000 cubic feet and is the unit of measurement in the production of gas.

(11)  "Month" means a calendar month.

(12)  "New field well" means an oil or gas well completed after July 1, 1997, in a new field as designated by the Department of Environmental Protection.

(13)  "Oil" means crude petroleum oil or other hydrocarbon, regardless of gravity, which is produced at the well in liquid form by ordinary production methods and which is not the result of condensation of gas after it leaves the reservoir.

(14)  "Operator" means the person in charge of a production operation by which taxable oil, gas, or sulfur products are severed.

(15)  "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, joint adventure, syndicate, association, business trust, estate, trust, fiduciary, corporation, group, or combination.

(16)  "Producer" means any person who owns, controls, manages, or leases any oil or gas property or oil or gas well or any person who produces in any manner any taxable product, including any person owning any royalty or other interest in any taxable product or its value, whether the taxable product is produced by, or on behalf of, such person under a lease contract or otherwise.

(17)  "Production" means the total gross quantity of each taxable product severed during a month, measured as required by this part.

(18)  "Purchaser" means any person who directly or indirectly buys, takes, transports, or otherwise removes any production of a taxable oil, gas, or sulfur product to his or her account from a well, lease, or source of supply.

(19)  "Sever" means to extract or withdraw any taxable oil, gas, or sulfur product from below the surface of the soil or water of this state by natural or mechanically enforced flow; to produce or recover sulfur from hydrogen sulfide gas; to withdraw from any natural or artificial surface reservoir or water surface, by any means whatsoever, any taxable product upon which tax imposed under this part has not been paid; or to recover any escaped taxable product upon which tax imposed under this part has not been paid.

(20)  "Shut-in well" means an oil or gas well that has been taken out of service for economic reasons or mechanical repairs.

(21)  "Small well oil" means oil produced from a well from which less than 100 barrels of oil per day are severed, considering only those days of the month during which production of oil from the well actually occurred.

(22)  "Sulfur" means any sulfur produced or recovered from hydrogen sulfide gas contained in oil or gas production.

(23)  "Taxable product" means the oil, gas, or sulfur severed by a producer during a month.

(24)  "Taxable production" means the quantity of a taxable product severed during a month by a producer, measured as required by this part.

(25)  "Taxpayer" means the person liable for any tax imposed under this part.

(26)  "Temporarily abandoned well" means a permitted well or wellbore that has been abandoned by plugging in a manner that allows reentry and redevelopment in accordance with oil or gas rules of the Department of Environmental Protection.

History.--s. 1, ch. 22784, 1945; s. 1, ch. 23883, 1947; s. 11, ch. 25035, 1949; ss. 21, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 46, ch. 71-377; s. 1, ch. 86-178; s. 1105, ch. 95-147; s. 70, ch. 96-323.

211.02  Oil production tax; basis and rate of tax; tertiary oil.--An excise tax is hereby levied upon every person who severs oil in the state for sale, transport, storage, profit, or commercial use. Except as otherwise provided in this part, the tax is levied on the basis of the entire production of oil in this state, including any royalty interest. Such tax shall accrue at the time the oil is severed and shall be a lien on production regardless of the place of sale, to whom sold, or by whom used and regardless of the fact that delivery of the oil may be made outside the state.

(1)  The amount of tax shall be measured by the value of the oil produced and saved or sold during a month. The value of oil shall be taxed at the following rates:

(a)  Small well oil and tertiary oil, 5 percent of gross value; and

(b)  All other oil, 8 percent of gross value.

(2)(a)  For the purposes of this section, "value" means the sale price or market price of oil at the mouth of the well in its natural, unrefined condition. If the oil is exchanged for something other than cash, if there is no sale at the mouth of the well, or if the sale price is not indicative of the true value or market price of the oil produced, value shall be determined by the sale price of oil of like kind and quality, considering any differences in the place of production or sale.

(b)  Any charges prepaid by the producer or included in the invoice price for delivery of the oil shall be deducted from the gross proceeds of the sale which are used to determine the value of oil produced, provided the oil was sold at a delivered price.

(c)  The value of oil produced shall not include any wellhead or other production taxes imposed by the United States on the producer, to the extent that such taxes do not provide a credit or deduction for the tax imposed under this part.

(3)(a)  The term "tertiary oil" means the excess barrels of oil produced, or estimated to be produced, as a result of the actual use of tertiary recovery methods in a qualified tertiary recovery project, over the barrels of oil which could have been produced by continued maximum feasible production methods in use prior to the start of tertiary recovery. A "qualified tertiary recovery project" means a project for enhancing recovery of oil which meets the requirements of ¹s. 4993(c), Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or substantially similar requirements.

(b)  The department may establish the method to be used by producers to determine the taxable production of tertiary oil and may require a producer or operator to furnish any information the department deems necessary for this purpose.

(4)  Oil production shall be measured or gauged. Mechanical metering systems using meters of a type generally approved for use in the industry may be used to measure oil production. If tank tables are used to determine oil production, tables compiled to show 100 percent of the full capacity of tanks, without deduction for overage or losses in handling, shall be used; or the oil production shall be adjusted to a basis of 100 percent of the full capacity of tanks if oil production is determined using tank tables compiled to show less than 100 percent of the full capacity of tanks. Oil production shall be expressed in barrels.

(5)  The tax imposed under this section shall be administered, collected, and enforced by the department.

History.--s. 2, ch. 22784, 1945; s. 2, ch. 23883, 1947; s. 1, ch. 77-408; s. 6, ch. 79-255; s. 19, ch. 83-339; s. 2, ch. 86-178.

¹Note.--This section has been repealed.

211.025  Gas production tax; basis and rate of tax.--An excise tax is hereby levied upon every person who severs gas in the state for sale, transport, profit, or commercial use. Except as otherwise provided in this part, the tax shall be levied on the basis of the entire production of gas in this state, including any royalty interest. Such tax shall accrue at the time the gas is severed and shall be a lien on production regardless of the place of sale, to whom sold, or by whom used and regardless of the fact that delivery of the gas may be made outside the state.

(1)  The amount of tax shall be determined by the volume, in mcf, of gas produced and sold or used by a producer during the month, measured at the point where the gas is identifiable as to kind and quality and is capable of being transported for further use or processing, subject to the following rates:

(a)  For the period July 1, 1986, through June 30, 1987, the gas tax rate shall be $0.162 per mcf; and,

(b)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987, and subsequent fiscal years, the gas tax rate shall be the gas base rate times the gas base rate adjustment for the fiscal year, as calculated by the department under subsection (3).

(2)  The gas base rate shall be $0.171 per mcf.

(3)(a)  On or before May 15, 1987, and annually thereafter, the department shall determine the gas base rate adjustment and the resulting gas tax rate for the fiscal year beginning on the following July 1.

(b)  The gas base rate adjustment for the fiscal year is a fraction, the numerator of which is the annual average of the gas fuels producer price index, Commodity Code 053, as calculated and published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the previous calendar year, and the denominator of which is 1109.0.

(c)  The department shall provide the gas base rate adjustment and the gas tax rate for the fiscal year, as determined under this subsection, to affected producers by written notice mailed on or before June 1.

(d)  If the index used to determine the gas base rate adjustment is substantially revised, or if the base year for the index is changed, the department shall make appropriate adjustment to the method used to determine the gas base rate adjustment to ensure a result which is reasonably consistent with the result which would have been obtained had the index not been revised or the base year changed.

(e)  If the gas fuels producer price index is discontinued, a comparable index shall be adopted by the department by rule.

(4)  Gas production shall be measured or determined by meter readings from meters showing 100 percent of the full volume of gas produced and shall be expressed in mcf.

(5)  The tax imposed under this section shall be administered, collected, and enforced by the department.

History.--s. 3, ch. 86-178.

211.026  Sulfur production tax; basis and rate of tax.--An excise tax is hereby levied upon every person who severs sulfur in this state for sale, transport, storage, profit, or commercial use. Except as otherwise provided in this part, such tax shall be levied on the basis of the entire production of sulfur in this state, including any royalty interest. Such tax shall accrue at the time of severance of the gas from which the sulfur is produced and shall be a lien on production regardless of the place of sale, to whom sold, or by whom used and regardless of the fact that delivery may be made outside the state.

(1)  The amount of tax shall be determined by the long tons of sulfur produced or recovered by a producer during the month from the hydrogen sulfide gas contained in oil or gas production from a well, measured at the point where the sulfur is in its molten, elemental state, and is capable of being sold, delivered, transported, or stored, subject to the following rates:

(a)  For the period July 1, 1986, through June 30, 1987, the sulfur tax rate shall be $2.81 per long ton; and

(b)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987, and subsequent fiscal years, the sulfur tax rate shall be the sulfur base rate times the sulfur base rate adjustment for the fiscal year, as calculated by the department under subsection (3).

(2)  The sulfur base rate shall be $2.71 per long ton.

(3)(a)  On or before May 15, 1987, and annually thereafter, the department shall determine the sulfur base rate adjustment and the resulting sulfur tax rate for the fiscal year beginning on the following July 1.

(b)  The sulfur base rate adjustment is a fraction, the numerator of which is the annual average of the sulfur producer price index, Commodity Code 06130272.99, as calculated and published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the previous calendar year, and the denominator of which is 100.0.

(c)  The department shall provide the sulfur base rate adjustment and the sulfur tax rate for the fiscal year, as determined under this subsection, to affected producers by written notice mailed on or before June 1.

(d)  If the index used to determine the sulfur base rate adjustment is substantially revised, or if the base year for the index is changed, the department shall make appropriate adjustment to the method used to determine the sulfur base rate adjustment to ensure a result which is reasonably consistent with the result which would have been obtained had the index not been substantially revised or the base year changed.

(e)  If the sulfur producer price index is discontinued, a comparable index shall be selected by the department and adopted by rule.

(4)  Sulfur production shall be measured and expressed in long tons.

(5)  The tax imposed under this section shall be administered, collected, and enforced by the department.

History.--s. 4, ch. 86-178.

211.027  Exemptions.--The following on-shore production is not subject to any tax imposed under this part:

(1)  Oil or gas production used for lease operations on the lease or unit where produced.

(2)  Gas returned to a horizon or horizons in the field where produced, either through wells on the lease from which produced or wells on other leases.

(3)  Gas vented or flared directly into the atmosphere, provided such gas is not otherwise sold.

(4)  Oil and gas produced from new field wells, completed after July 1, 1997, for a period of 60 months after the completion date.

(5)  Oil and gas produced after July 1, 1997, for a period of 48 months after the completion date from:

(a)  Any new producing well in an existing field that was established by the Department of Environmental Protection before July 1, 1997.

(b)  A shut-in well that has been out-of-service for a period of at least 24 months, prior to July 1, 1997, and through workover and mechanical repair is returned to commercial production.

(c)  A temporarily abandoned well or wellbore that has been out-of-service for a period of at least 24 months, prior to July 1, 1997, that is brought into commercial production by redrilling and recompletion.

(6)  Oil and gas produced after July 1, 1997, for a period of 60 months after the completion date from any horizontal well or any well having a total measured depth in excess of 15,000 feet.

(7)  No new exemptions as provided in subsections (4), (5), and (6) shall be granted after June 30, 2002.

(8)  Subsections (4), (5), and (6) are repealed effective June 30, 2007.

History.--s. 5, ch. 86-178; s. 71, ch. 96-323.

211.04  Assessment upon escaped oil; claims against same.--

(1)  When any regular monthly report required from taxpayers by this chapter does not disclose the actual source of any oil taxable under this chapter, but does show such oil to have escaped from a well or wells and to have been recovered from streams, lakes, ravines, or other natural depression; it shall be the duty of the department to collect, in addition to the excise tax herein imposed, an additional amount equal to 12.5 percent of the gross value of such escaped oil. The department shall hold such additional collection in a special escrow account for a period of 12 months from the date of the collections, during which time any person or persons, who claim to be the rightful owner or owners of any royalty interest in the escaped oil, may present proper and satisfactory proof of such ownership to the department. If the department shall be satisfied as to the ownership of such escaped oil, then it shall pay to such claimant or claimants a proportionate part of such additional collection held in escrow, according to their proper interest or interests. No payment to any claimant shall be made, however, before it is approved by the Department of Legal Affairs or before it is ordered by any court having proper jurisdiction.

(2)  After the lapse of 12 months from the date of any additional collection, if no claim or claims have been made to it, or to the balance remaining of it after the payment by the department of any claim or claims, the department shall distribute the additional collection or any balance of it in the same manner as is herein provided for the distribution of the tax imposed by this chapter.

History.--s. 4, ch. 22784, 1945; s. 4, ch. 23883, 1947; ss. 11, 21, 35, ch. 69-106.

¹211.06  Oil and Gas Tax Trust Fund; distribution of tax proceeds.--All taxes, interest, and penalties imposed under this part shall be collected by the department and placed in a special fund designated the "Oil and Gas Tax Trust Fund."

(1)  There is hereby annually appropriated a sufficient amount from the Oil and Gas Tax Trust Fund for the Comptroller to refund any overpayments which have been properly approved.

(2)  The remaining proceeds in the Oil and Gas Tax Trust Fund shall be distributed monthly by the department and shall be paid into the State Treasury, through June 30, 1995, as follows:

(a)  To the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the state:

1.  Eighty-seven and one-half percent of the proceeds from the oil production tax imposed under s. 211.02(1)(b).

2.  Eighty percent of the proceeds from the tax on small well oil and tertiary oil imposed under s. 211.02(1)(a).

3.  Eighty percent of the proceeds from the tax on gas imposed under s. 211.025.

4.  Eighty percent of the proceeds of the tax on sulfur imposed under s. 211.026.

(b)  To the credit of the general revenue fund of the board of county commissioners of the county where produced, subject to the service charge imposed under chapter 215:

1.  Twelve and one-half percent of the proceeds from the tax on oil imposed under s. 211.02(1)(b).

2.  Twenty percent of the proceeds from the tax on small well oil and tertiary oil imposed under s. 211.02(1)(a).

3.  Twenty percent of the proceeds from the tax on gas imposed under s. 211.025.

4.  Twenty percent of the proceeds from the tax on sulfur imposed under s. 211.026.

(3)  Beginning July 1, 1995, the remaining proceeds in the Oil and Gas Tax Trust Fund shall be distributed monthly by the department and shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

(a)  To the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the state:

1.  Seventy-five percent of the proceeds from the oil production tax imposed under s. 211.02(1)(b).

2.  Sixty-seven and one-half percent of the proceeds from the tax on small well oil and tertiary oil imposed under s. 211.02(1)(a).

3.  Sixty-seven and one-half percent of the proceeds from the tax on gas imposed under s. 211.025.

4.  Sixty-seven and one-half percent of the proceeds of the tax on sulfur imposed under s. 211.026.

(b)  To the credit of the general revenue fund of the board of county commissioners of the county where produced, subject to the service charge imposed under chapter 215:

1.  Twelve and one-half percent of the proceeds from the tax on oil imposed under s. 211.02(1)(b).

2.  Twenty percent of the proceeds from the tax on small well oil and tertiary oil imposed under s. 211.02(1)(a).

3.  Twenty percent of the proceeds from the tax on gas imposed under s. 211.025.

4.  Twenty percent of the proceeds from the tax on sulfur imposed under s. 211.026.

(c)  To the credit of the Minerals Trust Fund:

1.  Twelve and one-half percent of the proceeds from the tax on oil imposed under s. 211.02(1)(b).

2.  Twelve and one-half percent of the proceeds from the tax on small well and tertiary oil imposed under s. 211.02(1)(a).

3.  Twelve and one-half percent of the proceeds from the tax on gas imposed under s. 211.025.

4.  Twelve and one-half percent of the proceeds from the tax on sulfur imposed under s. 211.026.

History.--s. 6, ch. 22784, 1945; s. 6, ch. 23883, 1947; s. 2, ch. 61-119; s. 1, ch. 65-146; ss. 21, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 13, ch. 83-137; s. 6, ch. 86-178; s. 8, ch. 87-96; s. 1, ch. 94-197.

¹Note.--Section 2, ch. 94-198, as amended by s. 73, ch. 96-321, provides that:

"(1)  The Minerals Trust Fund shall, unless terminated sooner, be terminated on July 1, 1998.

"(2)  Prior to the regular legislative session immediately preceding the date on which the trust fund is scheduled to be terminated, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Governor shall recommend to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives whether the trust fund should be allowed to terminate or should be re-created. These recommendations shall be based on a review of the purpose and use of the trust fund and a determination of whether the trust fund will continue to be necessary. A recommendation to re-create the trust fund may include suggested modifications to the purpose, sources of receipts, and allowable expenditures for the trust fund. The department's recommendation shall be made as a part of its legislative budget request to the Legislature pursuant to s. 216.023, Florida Statutes. The Governor's recommendation shall be made as a part of the recommended budget presented to the Legislature pursuant to s. 216.162, Florida Statutes.

"(3)  If the trust fund is terminated, the Department of Environmental Protection shall pay any outstanding debts or obligations of the trust fund as soon as practicable and the Comptroller shall close out and remove the trust fund from the various state accounting systems, using generally accepted accounting practices concerning warrants outstanding, assets, and liabilities."

211.075  Payment of tax; returns; filing requirements; estimated tax declarations.--

(1)  The tax on oil production shall be due and payable on or before the 25th day of the month following the month production occurred. The tax on gas production and the tax on sulfur production shall be due and payable on or before the 25th day of the second month following the end of each calendar quarter.

(2)  Each producer shall file a return prescribed by the department listing the kind and quality of taxable products, the source and county of production, and the location of all oil or gas wells from which taxable products were produced. The return shall be filed on or before the last day prescribed for payment of the tax and shall be signed and verified under oath by the producer or the producer's authorized representative.

(a)  The return shall include a statement of the tax due under this part and such other information as the department may reasonably require.

(b)  A return shall be filed even though no tax is due. Any tax, penalty, or interest due shall be remitted with the return.

(3)(a)  Each person subject to the tax under s. 211.025 or s. 211.026 shall file, on a form prescribed by the department, a declaration of estimated tax on or before the 25th day of the month following the month production occurred and shall remit to the department an amount equal to 90 percent of the estimated tax.

(b)  The declaration may be amended under rules prescribed by the department, and the installment due shall be increased or decreased to reflect the change in estimated tax occasioned by the amendment.

(c)  The department may provide for credit of any overpayment of amounts due under this part which the department determines to have been made against the installment required under this subsection.

(d)  Any estimated tax paid for a month shall be deemed assessed upon the last date for payment of the tax under subsection (1).

(4)  If any due date prescribed by this section falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or state or federal holiday, the last date prescribed for filing or payment shall be the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. The date of receipt by the department, or the postmark date if mailed, shall determine the timeliness of payment or filing.

(5)  The department may grant an extension of time for payment, or filing of a return, upon written request submitted on or before the due date.

History.--s. 7, ch. 86-178.

211.076  Interest and penalties; failure to pay tax or file return; estimated tax underpayments.--

(1)  If any part of the tax imposed by this part is not paid on or before the due date, interest shall be added to the amount due at the rate of 12 percent per year from the due date until the date of payment.

(2)  Failure to file any return required by this part by the due date shall require payment of a delinquency penalty. If tax is due with the return, the delinquency penalty shall be 10 percent for each month, or portion thereof, of the amount of tax due with the return, not to exceed 50 percent. If no tax is due with the return, the delinquency penalty shall be $50 for each month, or portion thereof, during which the return was not filed, not to exceed $300 in aggregate. The amount of tax due with a return shall be reduced by amounts properly creditable against the tax liability shown on the return on the date the return was due.

(3)  Any taxpayer who makes a substantial underpayment of any tax due under this part shall pay a penalty of 30 percent of the underpayment, in addition to the delinquency penalty imposed under subsection (2). A substantial underpayment of tax means a deficiency of tax in an amount which exceeds 35 percent of the total tax due for a month.

(4)(a)  Except as provided in paragraph (c), the taxpayer is liable for interest at the rate of 12 percent per year and a penalty at the rate of 12 percent per year on any underpayment of estimated tax determined under this subsection.

(b)  An underpayment of estimated tax is the excess of:

1.  An amount equal to 90 percent of the tax for a month which is shown to be due on a return or, if no return is filed, 90 percent of the tax finally due for the month, over

2.  The amount, if any, paid on or before the due date of the installment.

(c)  The period of underpayment of estimated tax shall commence on the date the installment is due and shall end on the date the underpayment is paid. A payment of estimated tax shall be deemed a payment of a previous underpayment only to the extent the payment exceeds the amount of estimated tax installment due under subparagraph (b)1.

(d)  No penalty or interest for underpayment of estimated tax shall be imposed if the total amount of estimated tax paid on or before the installment due date equals or exceeds the lesser of:

1.  Ninety percent of the tax finally due for the month; or

2.  The amount of tax determined by the tax rate applicable for the month times the taxable production for the previous month.

(5)  Any penalty or interest imposed under this section shall be deemed assessed upon the assessment of the tax and shall be collected and paid in the same manner as the tax.

(6)  Any penalty imposed by this section may be settled or compromised by the department for reasonable cause pursuant to s. 213.21. Interest imposed by this section may be settled or compromised only as authorized by s. 213.21.

History.--s. 8, ch. 86-178; s. 80, ch. 87-6; s. 49, ch. 87-101; s. 15, ch. 92-320.

211.09  Collection of tax; duties of producer, operator, and purchaser.--

(1)(a)  The tax levied under this part is imposed upon the producer of the taxable product in proportion to the producer's ownership of the taxable product at the time of severance. The tax shall constitute a first lien on production until paid, whether or not the taxable product is in possession of the producer or any purchaser.

(b)  Except as otherwise provided by law, the operator shall collect the tax by deducting the proportionate amount of tax due from amounts due each producer and withholding the tax so deducted from any payments made to producers. Any operator who sells taxable products on the open market, or who uses or disposes of them in any manner, except in lease operations on the lease where produced, shall deduct the amount of tax imposed under this part from any amounts due interest owners and withhold the tax so deducted from any payments made to the interest owners.

(c)  When taxable products are sold under contracts requiring the purchaser to pay the owners of the taxable products directly, the operator shall not be required to deduct the tax. In this event, the purchaser shall collect the tax by deducting it from the amount due the owners and withholding it from payments made to each of the owners. Nothing in this paragraph shall release the operator from any recordkeeping or reporting requirements imposed under this part.

(2)(a)  The person required by this section to deduct and withhold the tax imposed under this part shall make remittance of the tax to the department, as provided in this part.

(b)  Any person who fails to deduct, withhold, or remit the tax as required by this part is liable for payment of the full amount of tax, and the department shall proceed to collect the tax, together with any interest or penalties, from such person as if such person were the producer.

(c)  When the title to any taxable product is in dispute or whenever any payments are being withheld on account of litigation or other reason, the amount of tax imposed by this part shall be deducted, withheld, and remitted to the department, as required by this section.

History.--s. 9, ch. 22784, 1945; s. 9, ch. 23883, 1947; ss. 21, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 9, ch. 86-178.

211.125  Administration of law; books and records; powers of the department; refunds; enforcement provisions; confidentiality.--

(1)  The department shall administer and enforce the provisions of this part and may prescribe the form and content of returns and reports and may adopt such rules as it deems necessary.

(2)  All state, county, or municipal agencies, boards, bureaus, departments, or districts shall cooperate with the department and shall furnish any information the department deems necessary, without cost to the department, for the purposes of administering, collecting, or enforcing any tax imposed under this part.

(3)(a)  Each person subject to the provisions of this part shall keep suitable books and records relating to the severance or production of taxable products in this state to enable the department to determine the amount of tax due under this part. Such books and records shall be preserved until the time within which the department may make an assessment with respect thereto has expired, as provided in s. 213.35.

(b)  The department shall have the power to inspect or examine the books, records, or papers of any operator, producer, purchaser, royalty interest owner, taxpayer, or transporter of taxable products which are reasonably required for the purposes of this part and may require such person to testify under oath or affirmation or to answer competent questions touching upon such person's business or production of taxable products in the state.

1.  The department may issue subpoenas to compel third parties to testify or to produce records or other evidence held by them.

2.  Any duly authorized representative of the department may administer an oath or affirmation.

3.  If any person fails to comply with a request of the department for the inspection of records, fails to give testimony or respond to competent questions, or fails to comply with a subpoena, a circuit court having jurisdiction over such person may, upon application by the department, issue orders necessary to secure compliance.

(c)  All books and records required to be kept under this subsection shall be available for inspection by the department, upon written request, during normal business hours.

(4)  The department may audit or examine the books and records of persons subject to this part to determine whether returns have been properly filed and tax properly paid. An audit may be commenced for any month for which the power of the department to make an assessment of amounts due under this part is available. An audit shall be commenced by service of a written notice of intent to audit upon the taxpayer, either in person or by certified mail. The date of personal contact or the date of the notice shall govern the period subject to audit. If there is jeopardy to the revenue and jeopardy is asserted in or with an assessment, the department shall proceed in the manner specified for jeopardy assessment in s. 213.732.

(5)(a)  The department may assess, with or without an audit, any deficiency resulting from nonpayment or underpayment of the tax, interest, or penalties imposed by this part. The department shall inform the taxpayer, by written notice, of the amount of any deficiency or overpayment revealed by an audit, including the tax, interest, or penalties due, and shall explain the basis for the determination.

(b)  The department shall have the power to make an assessment under this part based upon the best information available to it. The department may make an assessment based upon an estimate of amounts due under this part if the taxpayer fails to file a return, files a grossly incorrect or fraudulent return, or refuses to permit inspection of records. An assessment of the amounts due under this part shall be considered prima facie correct, and the taxpayer shall have the burden of showing any error in it.

(c)  In the event of a deficiency, the department shall issue its written notice to the taxpayer for the tax, penalties, or interest due. Full payment of the total amount assessed shall be made in the manner prescribed by the department in its notice.

(6)(a)  The department may credit or refund any overpayments of amounts due under this part which are revealed by an audit or for which a timely claim for refund has been properly filed.

(b)  A claim for refund may be filed within the period specified in s. 215.26(2).

(c)  A claim for refund must be signed by the taxpayer or the taxpayer's duly authorized representative, successor, or assigns and must include information the department requires to determine the correctness of the claim.

(7)(a)  Amounts due under this part shall remain a lien upon the property, assets, and effects of the taxpayer until paid or until collection thereof is barred under s. 95.091, and may be recovered by the department, on behalf of the state, by an action in any county where the property, assets, or effects of the taxpayer are located.

(b)  When any tax imposed by this part becomes delinquent or is otherwise in jeopardy, the department may issue a warrant for the full amount due or estimated to be due, including the tax, penalties, interest, and costs of collection. The warrant shall be directed to each sheriff and may be recorded with the clerk of the circuit court in any county where the taxpayer's property is located. Upon recording, the clerk of the circuit court shall execute the warrant in the same manner prescribed by law for executions upon judgments and shall be entitled to the same fees for this service. Upon payment of the warrant, the department shall satisfy the lien of record within 30 days. Thereafter, any interested person may compel the department to satisfy the lien of record.

(c)  Whenever the department deems it necessary, an alias tax execution may be issued. Each alias tax execution shall be so designated on its face and shall have the same force and effect as the original.

(d)  Tax executions may be levied upon any third party who is in possession or control of any assets of a delinquent taxpayer or who is indebted to a delinquent taxpayer. Such tax executions shall have the force and effect of a writ of garnishment. The third party shall pay the debt or deliver the assets of the delinquent taxpayer to the department, and receipt by the department shall discharge the third party completely to the extent of the debt paid or assets surrendered to the department.

(e)  Whenever any tax execution becomes void, the department may cancel it of record and shall do so upon the request of any interested person.

(8)  Any employee of the department may be designated by the executive director to make and sign assessments, tax warrants, and satisfactions of tax warrants.

(9)  Any suit brought by the department against any person for violating this part shall be brought in circuit court.

(10)  All returns and information filed with the department under this part are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1), and such returns or information shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure as provided in s. 213.053 and shall be exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).

History.--s. 10, ch. 86-178; s. 53, ch. 87-6; ss. 9, 28, ch. 88-119; s. 45, ch. 90-360; s. 11, ch. 92-315; s. 48, ch. 94-353; s. 59, ch. 96-406.

211.13  Tax exclusive.--No other excise or license tax, in addition to the tax provided in this part, may be imposed by the state or by a county, municipality, drainage district, or road, school, or other taxing district within this state upon any person who produces in any manner any taxable product by taking it from the earth or water of this state. The value of land for ad valorem tax purposes shall not be increased by reason of the location thereon of any producing oil or gas equipment or machinery used in and around any oil or gas well which is actually used in the operation thereof or because there may be taxable products under the surface of the land.

History.--s. 13, ch. 22784, 1945; s. 13, ch. 23883, 1947; s. 19, ch. 72-360; s. 1, ch. 77-102; s. 11, ch. 86-178.

211.18  Records.--It shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit court to keep a record book to be provided by the board of county commissioners of the county for the purpose of accepting for record any subsurface owner's interest in real estate of said county and any owner of subsurface interest in the lands of said county may register with the clerk the name of such owner, his or her address, the description of the land in which the owner has subsurface interest and such recording shall entitle such subsurface owner to notice by registered mail with return receipt requested of nonpayment of taxes by the surface owner, sale of tax certificates affecting the surface of said lands, application for tax deed of the surface interest and any foreclosure proceedings against said lands for unpaid taxes thereon, and no tax deed nor foreclosure proceedings shall affect such subsurface owner's interest if the notice hereby provided for is not given. For the clerk's services in registering such subsurface owner's interest as herein provided, the clerk shall receive a fee of $1, plus the fee per page for recording now provided by law. Where an owner of a subsurface interest or interests has registered with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which said subsurface interest is located, the name of such owner, his or her address, and the description of the land in which the owner has subsurface interests pursuant to the provisions of chapter 22784, Acts of 1945, such registration shall be and operate as a registration of his or her subsurface interests and shall entitle the owner thereof to the notices and immunities hereinabove provided the same as if such owner had registered with said clerk his or her subsurface interests under and pursuant to this chapter.

History.--s. 14, ch. 22784, 1945; s. 14, ch. 23883, 1947; s. 1106, ch. 95-147.

211.25  Tax crimes; punishment for violation of this part.--

(1)  Any person who willfully fails to file a return or keep books or records on production of taxable products, or who files a fraudulent return, or who willfully fails or refuses to produce books or records, or who willfully violates any provision of this part or any rule adopted by the department under this part is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2)  Any person who withholds tax due under this part and willfully fails to make remittance as required by this part, or who purports to make payments due under this part but willfully fails to do so because the remittance fails to clear the bank or depository institution against which it is drawn, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.--s. 12, ch. 86-178; s. 81, ch. 87-6; s. 50, ch. 87-101; s. 18, ch. 91-224.

211.30  Definitions.

211.31  Levy of tax on severance of certain solid minerals; rate, basis, and distribution of tax.

211.3103  Levy of tax on severance of phosphate rock; rate, basis, and distribution of tax.

211.3106  Levy of tax on severance of heavy minerals; rate, basis, and distribution of tax.

211.3108  Exemptions.

211.32  Tax on solid minerals; Land Reclamation Trust Fund; refund for restoration and reclamation.

211.33  Administration of the tax; returns; delinquency penalties and interest; departmental inspections of records.

211.335  Tax crimes; punishment for violation of this part.

211.34  Local ordinances not preempted.

211.30  Definitions.--In addition to the definitions contained in s. 211.01, the following words and terms shall have the definition and meaning ascribed to them in this section, unless the intention to give a more limited meaning is disclosed by the context:

(1)  "Solid mineral" means all solid minerals, including, but not limited to, clay, gravel, phosphate rock, lime, shells (excluding live shellfish), stone, sand, heavy minerals, and any rare earths which have heretofore been discovered or may be discovered in the future, which are contained in the soils or waters of this state.

(2)  "Severed" means the extraction or withdrawal from the soil or water of this state, either on or below the surface, of any solid minerals.

(3)  "Producer" means any person severing solid minerals from the soils and waters of this state.

(4)  "Production," for measuring solid minerals, means the total gross amount severed from the soils and waters of this state from any type of production unit, including, but not limited to, mines, quarries, pits, or other sites of extraction.

(5)  "Value" means the sales price or true market price of the solid mineral at the point of severance.

(6)  "Point of severance" means that point at which the solid mineral being severed is identifiable as to kind and quality and is capable of being transported for use or further processing. For phosphate rock, "point of severance" is the wet rock bin. For heavy minerals, "point of severance" is the discharge pump of the production dredge.

(7)  "Site of severance" means the mine, quarry, pit, or other geographical location at which a solid mineral is actually being severed from the soils and waters of this state.

(8)  "Taxable year" means calendar year.

(9)  "Phosphate rock" means a variable mixture of calcium phosphates and other minerals that have fluorapatite as the dominant phosphatic mineral, found in bedded deposits of marine origin. This term includes the forms of land-pebble and river-pebble phosphates and the phosphate concentrates derived from beneficiation of these forms. This term does not include colloidal phosphatic clays.

(10)  "Heavy minerals" means those minerals found in conjunction with sand deposits which have a specific gravity of not less than 2.8. "Heavy minerals" is a term applied to an admixture of such minerals as zircon, staurolite, and titanium minerals as generally mined in Florida.

(11)  "Producer price index" means:

(a)  For phosphate rock, the unadjusted annual phosphate rock-primary products index as calculated and published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(b)  For heavy minerals, the unadjusted annual titanium dioxide index as calculated and published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(12)  "Five-year moving average" means a simple average which is recomputed for each period by eliminating the data for the fifth prior year for the previous period and adding the data for the first prior year of the current period.

(13)  "Period" means the 5 calendar years immediately preceding the taxable year.

(14)  "Previous period" means the period for the prior taxable year.

(15)  "Base year" means the year used by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in an index as the reference year on which all other index numbers are computed, or the year designated as "100" in an index.

(16)  "Base period" means the 5 years immediately preceding the 1981 tax year, or the years 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980.

(17)  "Bone dry" means a condition which indicates the substantial absence of water as determined by generally accepted measurements of water content used within the industry.

(18)  "Colloidal phosphatic clay" means that material produced as a waste byproduct of hard rock phosphate mining and severed solely for direct application in agricultural uses.

(19)  "Ton" means 2,000 pounds.

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-105; s. 1, ch. 75-40; s. 1, ch. 81-35; s. 5, ch. 87-96.

¹211.31  Levy of tax on severance of certain solid minerals; rate, basis, and distribution of tax.--

(1)  There is hereby levied, to be collected as provided herein, an excise tax upon every person engaging in the business of severing solid minerals, except phosphate rock and heavy minerals, from the soils and waters of this state for commercial use. Such tax shall be 5 percent of the value at the point of severance of the identifiable solid minerals severed through June 30, 1995. Beginning July 1, 1995, such tax shall be 6 percent of the value at the point of severance of the identifiable solid minerals severed. Beginning July 1, 1996, such tax shall be 7 percent of the value at the point of severance of the identifiable solid minerals severed. Beginning July 1, 1997, and thereafter, such tax shall be 8 percent of the value at the point of severance of the identifiable solid minerals severed.

(a)  The proceeds of the tax imposed by this section shall be paid into the State Treasury through June 30, 1994, as follows:

1.  Fifty percent to the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the state; and

2.  Fifty percent to the credit of the Land Reclamation Trust Fund established for refunds under the provisions of s. 211.32.

Moneys paid into the Land Reclamation Trust Fund through June 30, 1994, shall remain available in that fund for refunds in accordance with the provisions of s. 211.32 until those moneys have been so depleted. Lands mined through June 30, 1994, shall remain eligible for such refunds. The Land Reclamation Trust Fund is abolished on July 1, 1999.

(b)  Beginning July 1, 1994, the proceeds of the tax imposed by this section shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

1.  Fifty percent to the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the state; and

2.  Fifty percent to the credit of the Minerals Trust Fund.

(c)  Beginning July 1, 1995, the proceeds of the tax imposed by this section shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

1.  Thirty-two percent to the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the state; and

2.  Sixty-eight percent to the credit of the Minerals Trust Fund.

(2)  On April 1 of each year until such funding ends, the Secretary of Environmental Protection shall report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as to the sufficiency of the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund and whether the funding of that fund needed substantially to complete the master reclamation plan as provided in s. 378.021 should be decreased, increased, or otherwise modified by law.

(3)  Interest earned on funds within any trust fund created under this part shall be invested and reinvested to the credit of such trust fund in accordance with s. 18.125.

(4)  The expenses of administering this part and ss. 378.011, 378.021, 378.031, and 378.101 shall be borne by the Land Reclamation Trust Fund, the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund, and the Phosphate Research Trust Fund.

(5)  The purpose of the Minerals Trust Fund is to receive designated taxes on severance of minerals to fund the administrative costs of programs of this state established to reclaim those lands disturbed by the severance of minerals; to fund the geological survey of the state; to fund the regulation of oil and gas exploration and production; to serve as a repository for funds allocated pursuant to ss. 377.24(1), 377.2408(1), 377.2425(1)(b), 377.247, and 377.41 that will enable the Department of Environmental Protection to respond without delay to incidents that affect safety or threaten to cause environmental damage or contamination as a result of incidents involving petroleum exploration and production activities; and to make available immediately to such department funds sufficient to correct violations such as an operator's failure to adequately plug, abandon, or restore production sites or other test sites and facilities after operations cease, if the permittee or operator does not correct the violation within a reasonable time. In fiscal year 1995-1996, any funds credited to the Minerals Trust Fund from severance taxes in excess of 115 percent of the legislative appropriation from the Minerals Trust Fund for that year shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund on June 30, 1996. In fiscal year 1996-1997, any funds credited to the Minerals Trust Fund from severance taxes in excess of 125 percent of the legislative appropriation from the Minerals Trust Fund for that year shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund on June 30, 1997. On June 30 of each subsequent fiscal year, of any funds credited to the Minerals Trust Fund from severance taxes in excess of 125 percent of the legislative appropriation from the Minerals Trust Fund, 50 percent of the excess shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund and 50 percent of the excess shall be transferred to the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund.

History.--ss. 1, 3, ch. 71-105; s. 2, ch. 75-40; s. 1, ch. 77-406; s. 1, ch. 78-136; s. 7, ch. 79-255; s. 2, ch. 81-35; s. 112, ch. 81-259; s. 8, ch. 81-295; s. 9, ch. 87-96; s. 7, ch. 87-331; s. 2, ch. 94-197; s. 49, ch. 94-356; s. 9, ch. 96-321.

¹Note.--Section 2, ch. 94-198, as amended by s. 73, ch. 96-321, provides that:

"(1)  The Minerals Trust Fund shall, unless terminated sooner, be terminated on July 1, 1998.

"(2)  Prior to the regular legislative session immediately preceding the date on which the trust fund is scheduled to be terminated, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Governor shall recommend to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives whether the trust fund should be allowed to terminate or should be re-created. These recommendations shall be based on a review of the purpose and use of the trust fund and a determination of whether the trust fund will continue to be necessary. A recommendation to re-create the trust fund may include suggested modifications to the purpose, sources of receipts, and allowable expenditures for the trust fund. The department's recommendation shall be made as a part of its legislative budget request to the Legislature pursuant to s. 216.023, Florida Statutes. The Governor's recommendation shall be made as a part of the recommended budget presented to the Legislature pursuant to s. 216.162, Florida Statutes.

"(3)  If the trust fund is terminated, the Department of Environmental Protection shall pay any outstanding debts or obligations of the trust fund as soon as practicable and the Comptroller shall close out and remove the trust fund from the various state accounting systems, using generally accepted accounting practices concerning warrants outstanding, assets, and liabilities."

¹211.3103  Levy of tax on severance of phosphate rock; rate, basis, and distribution of tax.--

(1)  There is hereby levied an excise tax upon every person engaging in the business of severing phosphate rock from the soils or waters of this state for commercial use. The tax shall be collected, administered, and enforced by the department.

(2)  The proceeds of all taxes, interest, and penalties imposed under this section shall be paid into the State Treasury through June 30, 1995, as follows:

(a)  The first $10 million in revenue collected from the tax during each fiscal year shall be paid to the credit of the Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund.

(b)  The remaining revenues collected from the tax during that fiscal year, after the required payment under paragraph (a), shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

1.  To the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the state, 60 percent. However, from this amount the amounts of $7.4 million, $8.2 million, and $8.1 million, respectively, shall be transferred to the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund on January 1, 1993, January 1, 1994, and January 1, 1995.

2.  To the credit of the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund which is established for reclamation and acquisition of unreclaimed lands disturbed by phosphate mining and not subject to mandatory reclamation, 20 percent.

3.  To the credit of the Phosphate Research Trust Fund in the Department of Education, Division of Universities, to carry out the purposes set forth in s. 378.101, 10 percent.

4.  For payment to counties in proportion to the number of tons of phosphate rock produced from a phosphate rock matrix located within such political boundary, 10 percent. The department shall distribute this portion of the proceeds based on production information reported by producers on the most recent annual returns filed prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. Any such proceeds received by a county shall be used only for phosphate-related expenses.

(3)  Beginning July 1, 1995, the proceeds of all taxes, interest, and penalties imposed under this section shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

(a)  The first $10 million in revenue collected from the tax during each fiscal year shall be paid to the credit of the Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund.

(b)  The remaining revenues collected from the tax during that fiscal year, after the required payment under paragraph (a), shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

1.  To the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the state, 58 percent.

2.  To the credit of the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund for reclamation and acquisition of unreclaimed lands disturbed by phosphate mining and not subject to mandatory reclamation, 14.5 percent.

3.  To the credit of the Phosphate Research Trust Fund in the Department of Education, Division of Universities, to carry out the purposes set forth in s. 378.101, 10 percent.

4.  For payment to counties in proportion to the number of tons of phosphate rock produced from a phosphate rock matrix located within such political boundary, 10 percent. The department shall distribute this portion of the proceeds based on production information reported by producers on the most recent annual returns filed prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. Any such proceeds received by a county shall be used only for phosphate-related expenses.

5.  To the credit of the Minerals Trust Fund, 7.5 percent.

(4)  If the base rate is reduced pursuant to paragraph (5)(c), then the proceeds of the tax shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

(a)  The first $10 million in revenue collected from the tax during each fiscal year shall be paid to the credit of the Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund.

(b)  The remaining revenues collected from the tax during that fiscal year, after the required payment under paragraph (a), shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

1.  To the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the state, 72.5 percent.

2.  To the credit of the Phosphate Research Trust Fund in the Department of Education, Division of Universities, 10 percent.

3.  For payment to counties in proportion to the number of tons of phosphate rock produced from a phosphate rock matrix located within such political boundary, 10 percent. The department shall distribute this portion of the proceeds based on production information reported by producers on the most recent annual returns filed prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. Any such proceeds received by a county shall be used only for phosphate-related expenses.

4.  To the credit of the Minerals Trust Fund, 7.5 percent.

(5)  The excise tax levied by this section shall apply to the total production of the producer during the taxable year, measured on the basis of bone-dry tons produced at the point of severance, subject to the following rates:

(a)  Beginning July 1, 1987, to December 31, 1987, the tax rate shall be $1.79 per ton severed.

(b)  For 1988, the tax rate shall be the base rate of $1.35 per ton severed.

(c)  For 1989 and subsequent years, the tax rate shall be the base rate times the base rate adjustment for the tax year as calculated by the department in accordance with subsection (6). However, for 2000 and subsequent taxable years, the base rate shall be reduced by 20 percent, unless additional funding of the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund is approved by law.

(6)(a)  On or before March 30, 1989, and annually thereafter, the department shall calculate the base rate adjustment, if any, for phosphate rock based on the change in the unadjusted annual producer price index for the prior calendar year in relation to the unadjusted annual producer price index for calendar year 1987.

(b)  For the purposes of determining the base rate adjustment for any year, the base rate adjustment shall be a fraction, the numerator of which is the unadjusted annual producer price index for the prior calendar year and the denominator of which is the unadjusted annual producer price index for calendar year 1987.

(c)  The department shall provide the base rate, the base rate adjustment, and the resulting tax rate to affected producers by written notice on or before April 15 of the current year.

(d)  If the producer price index for phosphate rock primary products is substantially revised, the department shall make appropriate adjustment in the method used to compute the base rate adjustment under this subsection which will produce results reasonably consistent with the result which would have been obtained if the producer price index for phosphate rock primary products had not been revised.

(e)  In the event the producer price index for phosphate rock primary products is discontinued, then a comparable index shall be selected by the department and adopted by rule.

(7)  The excise tax levied on the severance of phosphate rock shall be in addition to any ad valorem taxes levied upon the separately assessed mineral interest in the real property upon which the site of severance is located, or any other tax, permit, or license fee imposed by the state or its political subdivisions.

(8)  The tax levied by this section shall be collected in the manner prescribed in s. 211.33.

(9)  When real property or other property of value is accepted as a donation by a county from a producer, the amount of proceeds returned to such county under this section shall be reduced by the value of such donation.

History.--s. 3, ch. 81-35; s. 1, ch. 82-184; s. 9, ch. 84-330; s. 6, ch. 87-96; s. 4, ch. 91-305; s. 3, ch. 91-420; s. 3, ch. 94-197; s. 10, ch. 96-321.

¹Note.--Section 2, ch. 94-198, as amended by s. 73, ch. 96-321, provides that:

"(1)  The Minerals Trust Fund shall, unless terminated sooner, be terminated on July 1, 1998.

"(2)  Prior to the regular legislative session immediately preceding the date on which the trust fund is scheduled to be terminated, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Governor shall recommend to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives whether the trust fund should be allowed to terminate or should be re-created. These recommendations shall be based on a review of the purpose and use of the trust fund and a determination of whether the trust fund will continue to be necessary. A recommendation to re-create the trust fund may include suggested modifications to the purpose, sources of receipts, and allowable expenditures for the trust fund. The department's recommendation shall be made as a part of its legislative budget request to the Legislature pursuant to s. 216.023, Florida Statutes. The Governor's recommendation shall be made as a part of the recommended budget presented to the Legislature pursuant to s. 216.162, Florida Statutes.

"(3)  If the trust fund is terminated, the Department of Environmental Protection shall pay any outstanding debts or obligations of the trust fund as soon as practicable and the Comptroller shall close out and remove the trust fund from the various state accounting systems, using generally accepted accounting practices concerning warrants outstanding, assets, and liabilities."

211.3106  Levy of tax on severance of heavy minerals; rate, basis, and distribution of tax.--

(1)  There is hereby levied an excise tax upon every person engaging in the business of severing heavy minerals from the soils or waters of this state for commercial use. The tax shall be collected, administered, and enforced by the department. The proceeds of the tax imposed by this section shall be paid into the State Treasury as provided in s. 211.31(1) for certain solid minerals.

(2)  The excise tax levied by this section shall apply to the total production of the producer during the taxable year, measured on the basis of bone-dry tons of heavy minerals severed for commercial use at the point of severance, subject to the following rates:

(a)  For 1981, the tax rate shall be the base rate of $.84 per ton severed.

(b)  For 1982 through June 30, 1995, the tax rate shall be the base rate for heavy minerals times the base rate adjustment for the tax year as calculated by the department in accordance with subsection (3).

(c)  Beginning July 1, 1995, the tax rate shall be the base rate of $1.01 per ton severed times the base rate adjustment for the tax year as calculated by the department in accordance with subsection (3).

(d)  Beginning July 1, 1996, the tax rate shall be the base rate of $1.18 per ton severed times the base rate adjustment for the tax year as calculated by the department in accordance with subsection (3).

(e)  Beginning July 1, 1997, and thereafter, the tax rate shall be the base rate of $1.34 per ton severed times the base rate adjustment for the tax year as calculated by the department in accordance with subsection (3).

(3)(a)  On or before March 30, 1982, and annually thereafter, the department shall calculate the base rate adjustment, if any, for heavy minerals based on the change in the 5-year moving average of the annual producer price indexes for titanium dioxide in relation to the base period.

(b)  For the purposes of determining the base rate adjustment for any year, the base rate adjustment shall be a fraction, the numerator of which is the average of the annual producer price indexes for titanium dioxide for the period and the denominator of which is the average of the annual producer price indexes for titanium dioxide for the base period.

(c)  The department shall provide the base rate, the base rate adjustment, and the resulting tax rate to affected producers by written notice on or before April 15 of the current year.

(d)  If the producer price index for titanium dioxide is substantially revised, or if the base year used as an index of 100 is changed, the department shall make appropriate adjustment in the method used to compute the base rate adjustment under this subsection, which will produce results reasonably consistent with the result which would have been obtained if the producer price index for titanium dioxide had not been revised or the base year changed.

(e)  In the event the producer price index for titanium dioxide is discontinued, then a comparable index shall be selected by the department and adopted by rule.

(4)  The excise tax levied on the severance of heavy minerals shall be in addition to any ad valorem taxes levied upon the separately assessed mineral interest in the real property upon which the site of severance is located, or any other tax, permit, or license fee imposed by the state or its political subdivisions.

(5)  The tax levied by this section shall be collected in the manner prescribed in s. 211.33 and shall be expressly applicable for the severance of heavy minerals in the 1981 tax year.

History.--s. 3, ch. 81-35; s. 10, ch. 87-96; s. 5, ch. 94-197.

211.3108  Exemptions.--The following solid minerals shall not be subject to the tax imposed by this part:

(1)  Solid minerals which are sold to governmental agencies in this state, including cities and counties.

(2)  Solid minerals, except phosphate rock and heavy minerals, upon which the sales tax is ultimately paid to the state under chapter 212.

(3)  Solid minerals which are extracted by the owner of the site of severance for the purpose of improving the site of severance, provided the site of severance is subject to a restoration or reclamation program which has been approved by the appropriate state or local governmental entity.

(4)  Solid minerals, except phosphate rock, which are severed solely for direct application in agricultural uses.

History.--s. 3, ch. 81-35.

211.32  Tax on solid minerals; Land Reclamation Trust Fund; refund for restoration and reclamation.--

(1)(a)  Each taxpayer shall institute and complete a reclamation and restoration program upon each site of severance subject to the taxes imposed by this part, in accordance with criteria adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to chapter 378, which shall include the following standards:

1.  Control of the physical and chemical quality of the water draining from the area of operation;

2.  Soil stabilization, including contouring and vegetation;

3.  Elimination of health and safety hazards;

4.  Conservation and preservation of remaining natural resources; and

5.  A time schedule for the completion of the program and the various phases thereof.

The Department of Environmental Protection may adopt as criteria local ordinances which, at the minimum, meet the above standards. The mandatory obligation to institute and complete a reclamation and restoration program under this paragraph shall not apply to acres disturbed by the severance of solid minerals before July 1, 1975. However, if such acres are included within sites of severance that are subject to reclamation and restoration programs approved by the Department of Environmental Protection, such acres shall be treated as being subject to this paragraph for purposes of the refunds provided under paragraph (d).

(b)  The reclamation and restoration program may include qualified sites other than the site of severance upon which the taxes were paid. The Department of Environmental Protection may adopt a list of sites qualifying under this paragraph, which must meet, at the minimum, the following qualifications:

1.  The restoration or reclamation of the site and the program to be instituted are in the public interest; and

2.  The location of the site is in an area where economic considerations would not be conducive to immediate restoration or reclamation of the site.

(c)  As part of accomplishing a program of restoration and reclamation at a particular site of severance or at other sites qualified pursuant to paragraph (b), the taxpayer may request the Department of Environmental Protection to accept a portion or portions of the site as state land. Such a request shall be accompanied by an offer to transfer to the state title to the land involved and suitable ingress thereto and egress therefrom. If such request is granted by the Department of Environmental Protection, the refund under this election shall be computed on the fair market value of the land at the time of transfer, as determined by the taxpayer and the Department of Environmental Protection, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and concurred in after public hearing by such board.

(d)  The Comptroller shall, upon written verification of compliance with paragraph (a), paragraph (b), or paragraph (c) by the Department of Environmental Protection, and upon verification of the cost of the restoration and reclamation program or, if paragraph (c) is elected, the fair market value of the land, grant refunds, to be paid from the Land Reclamation Trust Fund, of the taxes paid under this part, in an amount equal to 100 percent of the costs incurred in complying with paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), or 100 percent of the fair market value of the land transferred in complying with paragraph (c), subject to the following limitations:

1.  A taxpayer shall not be entitled to refunds in excess of the amount of taxes paid by the taxpayer under this part which are deposited in the Land Reclamation Trust Fund.

2.  A taxpayer shall not be entitled to the payment of a refund for costs incurred in connection with a particular restoration and reclamation program unless and until the taxpayer is accomplishing the program in reasonable compliance with the criteria established by the Department of Environmental Protection.

(e)  Claims for reclamation refunds under paragraph (d) shall be filed on an annual basis within 60 days after the taxpayer has paid the tax imposed under this part for the preceding taxable year. The taxpayer may include in the claim for refund all costs incurred in complying with paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), or the values of all land transferred in complying with paragraph (c), for the period July 1, 1971, through December 31 of the preceding taxable year, to the extent that such costs or values have not been previously allowed for refund purposes.

(f)1.  To encourage the rapid accomplishment of reclamation, the taxes credited to the Land Reclamation Trust Fund shall be available for refund to the taxpayer under paragraph (d) for a maximum period of 5 years from the date the tax is paid. The Land Reclamation Trust Fund shall be subject to the service charge imposed pursuant to chapter 215.

2.  In allocating the tax paid into the Land Reclamation Trust Fund for a particular taxable year to refunds claimed and received by the taxpayer, the taxes first paid into the trust fund shall be deemed the taxes first paid out in refunds. The department shall determine by July 1 of each year that portion of the Land Reclamation Trust Fund for which refund claims have not been timely filed and allowed in accordance with this paragraph, and such portion shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund.

(g)  If, during any 3 consecutive taxable years, a taxpayer has not performed work under any approved reclamation and restoration program and if, at the end of such 3-year period, the taxpayer has completed reclamation on all lands he or she is obligated to reclaim pursuant to paragraph (a), then all moneys in the Land Reclamation Trust Fund to the taxpayer's account at the end of such period shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund.

(h)  If the Department of Environmental Protection determines that a taxpayer has abandoned a reclamation program subject to this part or has failed to complete such program by the completion date specified by the Department of Environmental Protection, and if the Department of Environmental Protection further determines that the taxpayer, after 60 days' notice of such deficiency from the Department of Environmental Protection, has failed to return work on the reclamation program to a rate of progress that would reasonably ensure completion of the program within not more than 6 months after the date of such deficiency notice from the Department of Environmental Protection or within not more than 6 months from the completion date established by the Department of Environmental Protection, whichever period is longer, then such reclamation program shall be permanently ineligible for purposes of reclamation refunds under this part.

(i)  In determining a taxpayer's compliance with completion dates specified by the Department of Environmental Protection for reclamation programs under this part, such completion dates shall be extended by the period of any delays attributable to causes beyond the reasonable control of the taxpayer.

(j)  The obligation to reclaim under paragraph (a) shall run with the land and shall be enforceable against any person claiming a fee interest in the land subject to that obligation.

(k)  The amendments by chapter 75-40, Laws of Florida, to paragraphs (d), (e), (f), and (g) shall apply to the balance in the Land Reclamation Trust Fund on July 1, 1975, regardless of the date the taxes were paid that gave rise to that balance and to refund claims filed on or after July 1, 1975, regardless of the date the reclamation costs were incurred on which the claim is based.

(2)  Notwithstanding any other provision in this part, refunds from the taxes levied under this part based upon the severance of solid minerals before July 1, 1978, shall be paid from the Land Reclamation Trust Fund for so long as funds remain available only for the cost of restoration and reclamation of land:

(a)  Disturbed by the severance of solid minerals prior to July 1, 1975; or

(b)  Included within a site of severance on or before July 1, 1977, for which a restoration and reclamation program was filed with the former Department of Natural Resources on or before July 1, 1977.

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-105; ss. 3, 6, ch. 75-40; s. 2, ch. 77-406; ss. 2, 7, ch. 78-136; s. 6, ch. 81-35; s. 18, ch. 83-339; ss. 2, 11, ch. 86-294; s. 50, ch. 94-356; s. 1490, ch. 95-147.

211.33  Administration of the tax; returns; delinquency penalties and interest; departmental inspections of records.--

(1)(a)  Every producer subject to tax under this part shall file a declaration of estimated tax for the taxable year, in such form as the department shall prescribe. The term "estimated tax" means the amount the taxpayer estimates to be his or her tax under this part for the taxable year. A taxpayer may amend a declaration under rules prescribed by the department.

(b)  The declaration is required to be filed on or before the first day of the fifth month of the taxable year. The estimated tax shall be paid in four equal installments. The first installment shall be paid at the time of the required filing of the declaration; the second and third installments shall be paid on or before the first day of the 7th and 10th months of the taxable year, respectively; and the fourth installment shall be paid on or before the first day of the next taxable year.

(c)  If an amended declaration is filed, the remaining installments, if any, shall be ratably increased or decreased, as the case may be, to reflect the increase or decrease in the estimated tax occasioned by such amendment.

(d)  The department shall provide by rule for a credit against estimated taxes of any amount determined by the department to be an overpayment of the tax imposed by this part for the preceding tax year.

(e)  Any amount paid as estimated tax shall be deemed assessed upon the due date for the taxpayer's annual return for the taxable year.

(f)  Except as provided in subparagraph 3., the taxpayer shall be liable for interest at the rate of 12 percent per year and for a penalty in an amount determined at the rate of 20 percent per year upon the amount of any underpayment of estimated tax determined under this paragraph.

1.  The amount of any underpayment of estimated tax shall be the excess of:

a.  The amount of the installment which would be required to be paid if the estimated tax were equal to 80 percent of the tax shown on the return for the taxable year or, if no return were filed, 80 percent of the tax for such year, over

b.  The amount, if any, of the installment paid on or before the last date prescribed for payment.

2.  The period of the underpayment for which interest and penalties shall apply shall commence on the date the installment was required to be paid and shall terminate on the date on which the amount of underpayment is paid. A payment of estimated tax on any installment date shall be considered a payment of any previous underpayment only to the extent such payment exceeds the amount of the installment determined under sub-subparagraph 1.a. for such installment date.

3.  No penalty or interest for underpayment of any installment of estimated tax shall be imposed if the total amount of all such payments made on or before the last date prescribed for the payment of such installment equals or exceeds the amount which would have been required to be paid on or before such date if the estimated tax were the lesser of:

a.  An amount equal to 80 percent of the tax finally due for the taxable year; or

b.  An amount equal to the tax shown on the taxpayer's return for the preceding taxable year, if a return showing a liability for tax was filed by the taxpayer for the preceding year.

(g)  Pursuant to s. 213.21, the department may settle or compromise any penalty or interest assessed under this subsection.

(2)(a)  Every producer shall file an annual return with the department on or before April 1 of each year for the preceding taxable year. The annual return shall be signed by the producer or the producer's duly authorized agent, shall be verified by oath, and shall include the following:

1.  The location of each site of severance operated or controlled by the producer during the taxable period and the total number of acres in each site.

2.  The kind and quantity of the solid minerals severed within each county political boundary.

(b)  Except as provided in subsection (1), the taxpayer shall pay the amount of any tax due for the preceding tax year by April 1.

(c)  If a tax return is not filed by April 1 for any taxes due for the preceding year or if any part of a deficiency in the tax due for the preceding tax year is due to negligence or intentional disregard of this part or the rules promulgated pursuant hereto, the department shall levy a delinquency penalty of 10 percent for each month, or portion thereof, on the amount of tax delinquent, not to exceed 50 percent of the total tax due.

(d)  In addition to the delinquency penalty provided in paragraph (c), the department shall assess interest on the unpaid balance of any such tax which becomes delinquent, without regard to any extensions, at the rate of 12 percent per year, from April 1 to the date of payment. Interest prescribed by this paragraph shall be deemed assessed upon the assessment of the tax and shall be collected and paid in the same manner.

(e)  Any taxpayer who makes a substantial underpayment of any tax due under this part shall pay a penalty of 30 percent of the underpayment in addition to the delinquency penalty imposed under paragraph (c). A substantial underpayment of tax due and payable under this part means a deficiency which exceeds 35 percent of the total tax due for any month.

(f)  The department may settle or compromise any penalty or interest assessed under this subsection pursuant to s. 213.21.

(3)  Every producer shall keep and preserve as long as required by s. 213.35 suitable records of production of solid minerals and such other books and documents as may be necessary to ensure compliance.

(4)(a)  The department is authorized to audit or inspect the books, records, documents, and returns of producers and to correct by credit or refund any overpayment of tax, or to make assessment of any deficiency revealed.

(b)  The department shall inform the producer by written notice of the amount of any overpayment or deficiency determined by an audit, including the basis for determining any tax, penalty, interest, or period subject to credit or refund.

(c)  In the event of a deficiency, the department shall make an assessment of the tax, penalty, and interest determined to be due. Full payment of the total amount assessed shall be made by the producer to the place and within the time specified in the written notice of the deficiency.

(5)  The use of information contained in any return filed by a producer under this part or in any books, records, or documents of a producer shall be as provided in s. 213.053, and shall be confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).

(6)  The department is authorized to make and publish such rules as it may deem necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of this part and to collect the taxes levied herein.

(7)(a)  When any tax imposed by this part becomes delinquent or is otherwise in jeopardy, the department may issue a warrant for the full amount due or estimated to be due, including the tax, penalties, interest, and costs of collection. The warrant shall be directed to each sheriff and may be recorded with the clerk of the circuit court in any county where the taxpayer's property is located. Upon recording, the amount of the warrant shall become a lien upon the taxpayer's real and personal property in such county in the same manner as a judgment duly docketed and recorded, and the clerk of the circuit court shall issue execution on the warrant in the same manner as on a judgment. The sheriff shall then execute the warrant in the same manner prescribed by law for executions upon judgments and shall be entitled to the same fees for this service. Upon payment of the warrant, the department shall satisfy the lien of record within 30 days. Thereafter, any interested person may compel the department to satisfy the lien of record. If there is jeopardy to the revenue and jeopardy is asserted in or with an assessment, the department shall proceed in the manner specified for jeopardy assessment in s. 213.732.

(b)  Whenever the department deems it necessary, an alias tax execution may be issued. Each alias tax execution shall be designated on its face and shall have the same force and effect as the original.

(c)  Tax executions may be levied upon any third party who is in possession or control of any assets of a delinquent taxpayer or who is indebted to a delinquent taxpayer. Such tax executions shall have the force and effect of a writ of garnishment. The third party shall pay the debt or deliver the assets of the delinquent taxpayer to the department, and a receipt by the department shall discharge the third party completely to the extent of the debt paid or assets surrendered to the department.

(d)  Whenever any tax execution becomes void, the department may cancel it of record and shall do so upon request of any interested person.

(e)  Any employee of the department may be designated by the executive director to make and sign assessments, tax warrants, and satisfactions of tax warrants.

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-105; s. 4, ch. 75-40; s. 3, ch. 77-406; s. 94, ch. 79-400; s. 4, ch. 80-222; s. 1, ch. 80-400; s. 4, ch. 81-35; s. 9, ch. 81-178; s. 2, ch. 82-184; s. 15, ch. 86-152; s. 54, ch. 87-6; s. 31, ch. 87-101; ss. 10, 29, ch. 88-119; s. 21, ch. 89-356; s. 46, ch. 90-360; s. 12, ch. 92-315; s. 16, ch. 92-320; s. 1107, ch. 95-147; s. 60, ch. 96-406.

211.335  Tax crimes; punishment for violation of this part.--

(1)  Any person who willfully fails to file a return or keep books and records on production of taxable products, or who files a grossly false or fraudulent return, or who willfully fails or refuses to produce books and records, or who willfully violates any provision of this part, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(2)  Any person who fails to make remittance of the tax as required by this part, or who purports to make payments due under this part but willfully fails to do so because the remittance fails to clear the bank or depository institution against which it is drawn, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.--s. 98, ch. 87-6.

211.34  Local ordinances not preempted.--Nothing in this act shall be deemed to preempt local ordinances that impose stricter land reclamation standards.

History.--s. 5, ch. 75-40.